Article of manufacture in an electric well drill



y 2, 1 H. D. SANDSTONE 1,906,771

ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE IN AN ELECTRIC WELL DRILL FiI ed Feb. 5, 1950 g7 2 I 24 F 5 lnvnl PM I Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics HARVEY DAVID SANDSTONE, OI LOS-ANGELFS, CALIFORNIA ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE IN AN ELECTRIC WELL DRILL Application filed February 3,- 1930. Serial No. 425,552.

My invention embodies a new principle of construction in well drills as will be readily apparent from the drawing and the herein detailed description. One object is the pro-- vision of a drill substantially constructed'for difiicult and continuous drilling operation, practically fool proof, of high efficiency under all conditions, readily produced from materials obtainable in the open market, and a at the least possible expense for a thoroughly serviceable drill.

In its structural embodiment, it embraces in addition to a cutting or drilling means, a

rotating head serving in a dual capacity that of a suction and a reverse cutting means. Thus, I not only provide an imroved drilling bit, but also a valuable ad- ]unct thereto. In cases of emergency as where a cave-in occurs and it becomes necessary or advisable, as is a more or less frequent occurrence, to withdraw the drill, in which event, pulling the cable taut so as to raise or withdraw the drill from the well, causes said rotating head to cut its way thru the obstruction, the rotating movement of said head in conjunction with the structural characteristics of thecutting means functioning .upon the principle of a suction fan at all times materially enhancing the drilling operation, the suction action pulling the swirling loosened matter upwards from the lower bit,and preventing the sediment from settling back on the drill, whereby a more or less clear path for the latter is maintained.

Compactly positioned within the drill casing body, I house all necessary electrical equipment, such as the motor, a specially designed and constructed extension rotor shaft, contact mediums, etc., the whole presenting a remarkably eificient electrical operating unit free from grime, dirt, water, mud and other foreign substance. 4

Another noteworthy feature of my drill is a shaft stop or butterfly on the cable engaging shaft above the upper bit. The object thereof is to preventsaid shaft from revolving, a feature which would not be conducive to best results in that a revolving shaft would cause the cables to twist, an apparent objectionable feature.

I attain these objects by the method of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 4

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view thru my electric drill casing showing my improved drill mechanism.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 on the line w-w.

Figure 3 is a view thru line .g y showing the'end of the cutting drill bit. Similar numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 thus indicates a drill body providing a chamber or housing, and u per and lower body head members 2 the latter being of greater diameter than the said body and thus extending outwardly therefrom; the said outwardly extended portion being slotted as at 3, to provide a means thru which liquids and foreign matter accumulating between the well casing and aforesaid body member 2 may be released.

Within the said chamber or housing 1 is j uxtapositioned an electric motor 4, the rotor shaft of which, however, is hollow. To the said shaft 5 is attached an extension shaft 6 forged and otherwise machined to provide a centrally disposed auxiliary chamber 7 in which bearing members 8 are positioned, the purposes of which are to take up the resultant friction developed against the said chamber walls by the pole 9 of a hollow cable shaft 10 therein extended, as well as for taking upthe apparent strain against the said wall by the load lift the said shzfft carries.

The opposite end of said shaft 10 terminates into an eye 11 to provide a suitable cable attaching means for the purpose of lowering and withdrawing the combined drill into and out of a well. Attached to said shaft at a point somewhat midway between the drill point and the aforesaid eye, no particular designated point of contact, however, being essential, is a substantially formed and constructed so-called butterfly 12 for preventing the shaft from revolving, this being advisable to remove the pomib'ilit of in ury to the cable (not shown) i allowed to indiscriminately twist. I

Juxtapositioned within the aforesaid casing, cylinder and piston members 13 and 14 respectively, provide a suitable means for equalizing hydrostatic pressure within the wlthout the aforesaid casing. The purpose of equalizing said pressure should readily be apparent. It tends to diminish blowing of the packing and collapse of the casing, two important and common factors continuously experienced, and also prevents foreign matter from coming into contact with the motor.

A disk 15 of suitable material is interposed between the upper end of the said cylinder members 13 and the lower end of the motor 4. The purpose of this disk is to.

form a separating medium between the two, as well as a closnremeans for the upper end of said cylinders. Normally, the pistons 14 rest on the bottom or lower end of cylinders 13, the space above being filled with a suitable non-conducting liquid substance admitted thru intake means 16 capped as at 1.7 flush with the outer diameter of the casing proper.

An intake 18 capped as at 19 equally flush with the outer diameter of the casing proper serves as a means for introducing aforesaid non-conducting liquid substance into the easing and in which the motor operates, it being obvious that this results in numerous advantages, cooling for example.

Suitably mounted within said casing, self aligning members 20 -normally held outwardly by spring members 21, provide a. means for steadying the drill and wholly eliminate all possibility of the drill body from turning.

Detachably connected to the rotor extension shaft at the top of the drill b dy an especially designed rotating head 2 'comprising a series of spiral fluted chali'nels 40 provide a reverse cutter means functioning when the drill -is pulled upwardly. Directly connected to the rotor shaft at the bottom of the drill body, a drill bit 23 having a centrally disposed aperture 41 provides the usual drillingmeans.

It will be apparent from the drawing, that both the rotating head 22 and the drill bit 23 are bored completely thru, the bore in drill bit 23, however, being of a reduced diameter than that contained in the rotating head 22. In the aperture of the head 22, the cable shaft 10 is inserted, the latter passing thru the upper casing head member and into the rotor extension shaft.

member 26 are metallic bands 28, suitable apertures in said member 26 and members 28 providing a means for continuing the wires therethru, thesame being permanently mched to the members 28 by any suitable means.

Inserted in apertures 29 provided in the rotor shaft extension 6, are cont-act brush members 30 which makea direct contact with the aforesaid metallic bands 28. The brush members 30 have wire leads attached which in turn make contact with metallic bands 31 imbedded in a circular fibre ring 32 connected to a metallic base 33 integral with and attached to the motor casing. Lugs 34 suitably attached to the upper casing head have apertures 35 in which brush contacts 36 are inserted, the latter making a direct contact with the aforesaid metallic bands 31. Feed wires'leacling from said contact brushes 36 engage the motor leads, full control thereof being above the ground in the usual or customary manner.

The drill is lowered or raised from the well by means of a cable and hoist as is customary. Water is fed to the cutting drill by means of aflexible hose connected to the source of supply and attached to the connecting medium 37 on the hollow cable shaft, then thru rotor shaft extension, motor rotor shaft and finally thru the drill bit itself, outlet 41 escaping therefrom by means of ports 39 a suitable packing member 38 being provided at the extreme end of the shaft pole 9 where it contacts with the armature shaft extension so that the water lead thru the cable shaft will be confined in a definite channel thru the rotor shaft and not diffuse thruout the auxiliary chamber 7 A refrigerating means of standard construction and comprising pump, tank, thermostat, drive mechanism, etc., and adapted to liquid air or any other suitable cooling agent is suitably housed in the drill body as at 42.

I am aware that slight modifications may from time to time be made in the details of construction illustrated without departing, however, from the scope of the present invention as herein set forth, and as defined in the claims which are appended hereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact description or construction herein disclosed, but what I do claim, is:

1. In an electric drill, in combination, a drill casing comprising a. body, upper and lower head members forming a hollow chamber housing a motor, a rotor shaft extension member operatably connected thereto, and a hollow cable engaging shaft engageable therewith, cable connecting means on one end of said shaft, the other end forming a pole threaded to form washer and nut engaging means, a collar of non-conductor material around said cable shaft pole, conductor bands imbedded in said non-conductor material, means for suitably connecting the feed lines from the source of electrical energy to said conductor bands, and forconveyin the same to said point of contact.

2. fn an electric drill, in combination, a drill casing, a chamber formed therein, a cable shaft engageable therewith and means of connecting a cable thereto, said cable shaft hollow and terminating into a pole for engagement with a suitable means of elec-' trical contact, said pole threaded to provide a locking nut means for securing said means of electrical contact, feed Wires from the source of electrical energy conveyed thru the said hollow cable shaft, suitable apertures in said cable shaft pole and said means of electrical contact, and whereby the said feed wires are conveyed from within the said hollow cable shaft, cable shaft pole and means of electrical contact. to the outer side thereof and point of contact with the aforesaid means of electrical contact.

3. In an electric drill, the combination of a plurality of chambers providing a-housing for. juxtapositioning an electric motor, said motor housing adaptable for holding substances of either a liquid or solid state, in-

take means connected thereto, rotor shaft extension and electric contact mediums, a hollow cable shaft adaptable to engagement with a lowering and hoisting cable, butterfiy means on said hollow cable shaft, a pole on one end of the said hollow cable shaft and extending into one of said plurality of chambers, said chamber formed within aforesaid rotor shaft extension, members juxtapositioned within said chamber, and said hollow cable shaft pole riding on said bearing members for the purpose described.

4. In an electric drill, the combination of an electric motor provided with a hollow rotor shaft and a shaft extension contained in a casing chamber comprising body, upper and lower head members, said shaft extension forming an auxiliarychamber within said casing chamber, cylinder and piston members juxtapositioned within the said casing chamber, the said cylinder and piston members comprising a suitable hydrostatic pressure equalizing means, said cylinder members adaptable for holding liquid or solid substance, intake means connected thereto, a hollow cable shaft engageably connected to aforesaid hollow rotor shaft extension, and suitable packing means interposed therebetween so as to make an absolute water tight union between the two.

5. In an electric drill, the combination of an electric motor operably connected to the source of electric energy thru intermediate contact means, said means and said electric motor juxtapositioned within said electric drillcasing chamber and an auxiliary chambearing her formed therein, self aligning spring tensioned members juxtapositioned in longitudinal relation 'with the body of the drill casing and normally held outwardly therefrom, spring means functioning to normally outwardly position the same, drill bit means detachably connectible to the motor rotor at one end of the said drill casing, and to an extension shaft detachably connectible to the motor rotor shaft at the other end, means for engaging the said electric drill to a lowering cable, said means and said motor rotor shaft, rotor extension shaft and drill bits providing a means for conveying water from a source of supply thru the said drill casing to the bottom of the well for the purpose of supplying a cutting and cooling circulating medium.

6. In combination with-a double ended drill mechanism, a lower bit comprising a central element adapted to attack the bottom of the hole when the drill is rotated, and of suitable diameter to freely allow the passage of the drill body, an upper drill bit comprising a central element adapted to attack the above formation of the well, as a cave in or sediment settling on top of drill, and means forautomatically conveying liquid and sediment away from the mechanism progressively with the action of the drill.

7. Hole drilling mechanism; cutting means at its lower end adapted to attack the bot-tom formation; means adapted to cut and attack the upper formation such as cave-ins or straightening the hole on its upper end, an electric motor for driving same fixed relatively thereto and including a stationary motor housing, said housing adapted to hold liquid or solid matter under pressure equalized with the outside pressure.

8. In an electric drill, in combination, a drill casing comprising a body of upper and lower members forming a chamber, an elec tric motor juxtapositioned therein, said motor having a'hollow rotorshaft, and a rotor shaft extension attached thereto, said shaft extension comprising an auxiliary chamber within the said casing chamber, contact means engageable with the motor contact means suitably mounted in lug members at- 'tached to aforesaid upper body member, and

porated therein for cooling the operating mechanism of the drillingrmeans and comprising a sectional body member, hollow shaft means adapted to engagement with an electric motor juxtapositioned in said sectional body, means integral with certain of said hollow shaft means for forming an auxiliary chamber in said sectional body member, means juxtapositioned in said body whereby the same is divided into two com partments, one of said compartments comprising a housing for an electric motor means forming the actuating element for rotating said hollow shaft means, contact means adjacent said electric motor and in engagement therewith and the source of electric energy, means suitably mounted. in said compartment for self-aligning and steadying said electric drill, said electric motor operating in said compartment in a suitable liquid substance, means integral with said compartment for admitting said liquid substance, the other of said compartments housing cylinder and piston means functioning to equalize the hydrostatic pressure within and without the said compartment, said hydrostatic pressure means operating in a suitable liquid substance, means integral with said sectional body means for admitting said liquid substance, said hollow shaft means having a hollow cable shaft inserted therein terminating into a pole, the other end of which terminates into an eye, means integral with said shaft for admitting a stream of water, butterfly means on said shaft functioningto prevent it from turning, and means integral with an extension shaft engaging said electric motor for the attachment of a reverse cutting and suction head simultaneously rotating with a drill bit means detachably connected to the lowermost end of the motor shaft.

10. In an electric drill, in combination, a drill casing comprising a casing body of upper and lower head members slotted and extending outwardl from said casing body member and providing circulation clearance for foreign matter in the well, electric motor means operably positioned in said casing body and having a hollow rotor shaft detachably connectible to an extension shaft forming an auxiliary chamber within said casing bod a hollow cable shaft positioned within sai hollow rotor shaft extension and extending within the said auxiliary chamber, said hollow cable shaft having cable engaging means on one of its ends, a butterfly means on said shaft whereby said shaft is prevented from revolving, the other end of said shaft terminating into a pole functioning as a nut to eliminate the pulling out of said shaft thru the extension rotor shaft, said pole provided with apertures through which the electric wires aregled from within the shaft to a suitablepoint of contact on said pole and to additional contact means within said auxiliary chamber and the aforesaid chamber walls, and with contact means attached to the drill casing head, finally contacting, with motor switch means above the surface for controlling the motor operation,

hydrostatic pressure equalizing means j uxtapositioned in said drill casing, and spring tensioned self aligning bar members juxtapositioned in the wall ofsaid drill casing whereby the drill body is prevented from turning and steadied in the drilling process.

11. A hole boring means comprismg a sectional tubular body and a hollow rotatable shaft disposed therethrough, said sectional tubular body having a rotatable head comprisin suction and reverse cutter means detachab y connected to the upper art thereof, means at the lower end of said ody for operably and detachably afiixing a drill bit; actuating means in said body for transmitting power to the shaft for simultaneousl operating said rotatable head and said dri 1 bit, and means integral with said body for adjustably aligning said body in its drilling process in the hole of the well.

12. A hole boring means, comprising a tubular body, a sectional hollow shaft extending through said body, means for closing ends of said body, said means comprising a rotatable head member rotatabl positioned to the upper end of said bo y, the other end thereof providing a means for detachably connecting a drill bit, said rotatable head and said drill bit means being directly attached to said hollow shaft means, means for transmitting power to said shaft for operating said rotating head and said bit, pressure equalizing means juxtapositioned in said tubular body functioning to equalize hydrostatic pressure in said body, diaphragm-separatingmeans interposed atop of saidpressure equalizing means, and forming a flexible partition within saidtubular body, and means juxtapositioned in said tubular body and providing a cooling medium for the operating mechanism actuating said rotating head and said drill bit.

13. In a double-ended hole drilling mechanism, comprising in combination, an upper rotatable head functioning as a suction means and reverse cutter means simultaneously with a drill cutting means, a means equalizing the interior pressure with that on the exterior of said mechanism, means for circulating a cooling medium within the body of said hole drilling mechanism, and means in combination with said drilling means whereby water is fed to said drilling means at the apex of the drill.

14. In an electric drill, the combination of a sectional casing member providing a chamber housing an electric motor having a hollow rotor shaft therethrough, an exten- SlOIl shaft means connected thereto, said shaft extension means having a cable shaft therein extended, the upper end of which terminates into an eye, said shaft having juxtapositioned means for the introduction of water, butterfly means securely mounted to the side of said shaft, and a reverse cutting and suction means comprising a rotatable head adaptable to attachment to the said extension rotor shaft, said electric motor being operetively connected to the source 0f electrical energy, whereb the said motor is caused to rotate said rill bits means for operably engaging a firill bit to said heliow rotor shaft, said eye forming a cabie engaging means for the purpose of lowemng and hoisting the said casmg member into a 6. out of the Well.

RVEY DAVID SANDSTONE, 

